knowing when to call your vet

Knowing and paying close attention to your goats and their behavior is imperative to catching any ailments that may come up. Like many animals, goats will mask symptoms of illness. By the time you see symptoms it is important to act quickly with the care of a veterinarian. If your goat shows any of the signs below, call your vet immediately. It is also important to create a goat first aid kit to have on hand.

Urinary Calculi - very painful and serious condition in wethers.

This condition can become life threatening very quickly. If you see the following symptoms in your wether, call your vet right away.

Straining to urinate

Noticeably uncomfortable

Crying while urinating

Stretching

Pneumonia

There are several kinds of pneumonia that can affect goats. The symptoms to watch for are yellow/green nasal discharge, a disinterest in food, depression, rattly cough and fever; (101.5 to 103.5 is normal) Contact your vet immediately if you suspect pneumonia in your goat.

Learning to take your goat’s temperature is simple and a sometimes necessary skill to learn and rest assured it doesn’t cause the goat any pain. A digital thermometer is used, rectally. Normal temperature range for goats is 101.5—103.5.